Morrissey thanks fans for support

Morrissey has thanked fans for their well-wishes over the last month, saying they have helped him in his battle against a bleeding ulcer, throat condition Barrett's oesophagus, and anaemia

Morrissey has thanked fans for curing him of a "crisis of spirits".

The 'This Charming Man' hitmaker has been forced to scrap a string of gigs while he receives treatment for a bleeding ulcer, throat condition Barrett's oesophagus, and anaemia, and says letters of support have helped him through the last month.

In a message posted on fan site True To You, he said: "I gorge myself on thanks for the many and varied messages of support that I've received over these recent four weeks. They have yanked me out of prolonged mood dips and cured a crisis of spirits."

The message came as Morrissey confirmed he has also been forced to axe shows in Denver, Salt Lake City and San Francisco and took the time to apologise for "any trouble" this causes fans in cancelling plans they had made in order to attend the concerts.

He said: "I apologise to an almost annoying degree for any trouble I've caused to anyone by way of travel plans and dog-sitters and ticket-outlay and re-molded hairstyles.

"My ulcer is now under reins, even if neither asleep nor dead, but the continued cause for concern is a slightly embarrassing absence of blood - most of which the bleeding ulcer relieved me of. Anaemia sets its own terms with quite obvious biological conclusions, and I have spent these last weeks under expert medical care in Los Angeles with an almost erotic dependency on various IV drips."

The former Smiths frontman hopes to be recovered in time to take to the stage in San Diego on February 27.